Raleigh, N.C. – Voters in North Carolina are split on which party they trust – the Democratic or Republican – to handle several pressing issues the state is facing, such as creating jobs and growing the economy, and improving public education, according to a new poll released today by the Civitas Institute.
According to the live caller poll of 600 likely voters, Republicans were favored to handle the issues of holding down taxes and controlling illegal immigration while voters preferred Democrats to improve education. On the issues of improving the economy and fighting government corruption, voters were evenly split.
“Voters are returning to normal in terms of party ownership of issues, as Republicans reestablish themselves on fiscal issues,” said Civitas Institute Senior Legislative Analyst Chris Hayes. “Republicans had lost voter trust on taxes and spending after 2006, but those issues are returning, thanks in no small part to the aggressive government actions by the Democrats in charge in Raleigh and Washington.”
When asked which party they trust more to handle the issue of creating jobs and growing the economy, 34 percent of voters said they trust the Republican party more while 36 percent say they trust the Democratic party. Seven percent said they trust both parties equally, and 15 percent said they trust neither party.
The Republican Party leads with 42 percent of voters saying they trust them more to handle the issue of holding down taxes. Twenty-nine percent of voters said they trust the Democratic Party more, 5 percent said they trust both equally, and 17 percent said they trust neither.
When asked who they trust more to handle fighting government corruption, voters are virtually tied. Thirty percent of voters said they trust the Democratic Party more and 28 percent said they trust the Republican Party. Six percent said they trust both parties equally, 8 percent said they are not sure, and 28 percent said they trust neither party to deal with fighting corruption in government.
In addition, unaffiliated voters, the fastest growing voter segment in North Carolina, reflects a recurring trend as 41 percent said they trust neither party to handle the issue of fighting government corruption.
“A growing number of unaffiliated voters are showing little faith in either party to solve our most critical problems,” added Hayes.
On the issue of controlling illegal immigration, 36 percent of voters say they trust the Republican Party more to handle the issue whereas 28 percent said they trust the Democratic party more. Six percent said they trust both parties equally, 20 percent trust neither, and 9 percent said they are not sure. Unaffiliated voters again rejected both parties as 33 percent said they trust neither group to handle the issue.
“There is a clear-cut anti-incumbent sentiment right now against both major parties,” added Hayes. “They are either holding their vote altogether or voting against all incumbents.”
The Civitas Poll is the only monthly live-caller poll of critical issues facing North Carolina. For more information on Civitas polling see www.nccivitas.org/media/poll-results/.
Full text of questions:
Which party in North Carolina, the Democratic or Republican, do you trust more to handle the following issue: holding down taxes?
Republican – 42%
Democrat – 29%
Both Equally – 5%
Neither – 17%
Not Sure – 7%
Which party in North Carolina, the Democratic or Republican, do you trust more to handle the following issue: creating jobs and growing the economy?
Republican – 34%
Democrat – 36%
Both Equally – 7%
Neither – 15%
Not Sure – 9%
Which party in North Carolina, the Democratic or Republican, do you trust more to handle the following issue: fighting government corruption?
Republican – 28%
Democrat – 30%
Both Equally – 6%
Neither – 28%
Not Sure – 9%
Which party in North Carolina, the Democratic or Republican, do you trust more to handle the following issue: improving public education?
Republican – 29%
Democrat – 38%
Both Equally – 8%
Neither – 15%
Not Sure – 9%
Which party in North Carolina, the Democratic or Republican, do you trust more to handle the following issue: controlling illegal immigration?
Republican – 36%
Democrat – 28%
Both Equally – 6%
Neither – 20%
Not Sure – 9%
Click here for full results and crosstabs
This poll of 600 likely general election voters in North Carolina was conducted June 15-18, 2010 by Tel Opinion Research of Alexandria, Virginia. All respondents were part of a fully representative sample of registered voters in North Carolina. For purposes of this study, voters we interviewed had to have voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
The confidence interval associated with a sample of this size is such that: 95 percent of the time, results from 600 interviews (registered voters) will be within +-4% of the “True Values.” True Values refer to the results obtained if it were possible to interview every person in North Carolina who had voted in either the 2004, 2006 or 2008 general elections or were newly registered voters since 2008.
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